Tobacco-conveyer



(No Model.)

L I J WRIGHT TOBACCO GONVBYEB.

No. 423,505. Patented Mar. 18, 1890.

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\ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWVIS J. WRIGHT, OF, CARROLLT'ON, KENTUCKY.

TOBACCO-CONVEYER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 423,505, dated March 18, 1890.-

Application filed September 9, 1889. Serial No. 323,409. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEWIS J. WRIGHT, of Carrollton, in the county of Carroll and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and Improved Tobaoco-Conveyer, of which the fol-' lowing is a specification.

This improved tobacco-conve yer is intended for conveying tobacco-plants from the place where they are harvested to any convenient or. desired location. The conveyer is particularly designed for use on hillsidesor other localities which have been planted with tobacco and where it is difficult or impossible to drive teams for gathering tobacco. I5

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinv Figure 1 is a general side view of the improved 'conveyer, shown as in posit-ion 011 a hillside; and Figs. 2,3, and 4 are detail views.

The apparatus includes two independentlymovable frames A A, which are adapted to be firmly anchored in the desired positions, one, as A, at the place where the tobacco is grown, and the other, as A, at the locality to which the tobacco plants are to be conveyed. These frames are connected by two wire cables B B, which constitute the ways or tracks along which the tobacco-plants are conveyed. The wire cables are each securely fixed at one end to the frame A. At their opposite ends each cable is fastened to one of two drums O O, fixed at opposite ends to a shaft D, journaled in the other frame A.

The wire cables can be tightened to the proper extent by turning the shaft D. To enable this to be done the shaft is provided with radial apertures E E, in which is inserted in succession one end of an operating handlever F. To prevent the shaft from turning in the opposite direction it is provided with a ratchet-wheel G, which is engaged by a retaining-pawl H, pivoted to the frame A.

Traveling on each of the two cables B is a traveling carriage I, there being two of them one for each wire. Each carriage is composed of a bar J which is secured between two yokes K K embracing the cable. In each yoke is journaled a trolley L, which runs on the cable, the bar J being thus suspended below the cable. To maintain the carriage in proper position it is 'ballasted by means of a weight M, suspended from the bar J. Each carriage is provided with a number of hooks N N from which the tobacco-plants are-'suspended. These hooks are preferably formed by bending up the lower ends of the yoke K K. The two carriages are connected by being attached to opposite ends of a cord, rope, or chain N, this cord in passing from one carriage to the other passing over a vertical 6o guide-pulley O, journaled on one side of the frame A, thence over a horizontal guide-pulley P, journaled in a rearwardly-extendlng bracket Q on the frame A, thence around the entire periphery of a large horizontal sheave R, j ournaled in a rearwardly extending bracket S on the frame A, thence over a second horizontal guide-pulley P, journaled in a bracket Q, and thence over a second vertical pulley O. The rope N is long enough so that when one carriage is close to the frameAthe other will be close to the frame A. When both carriages are empty, they balance each other and neither will move, since the friction between the rope and the several guidepulleys and the sheave prevent-s. When the upper carriage, however, is sufficiently loaded,

it will startdown its track or way and carry its load automatically to the discharge-frame A. At the same time the empty carriage will be automatically drawn up to the loadingframe A.

In case the carriages travel too rapidly provision is made for retarding their speed. To this end the bracket S, in which the sheave R is journaled, is made of two-bars T T, of elastic metal, located above and below the sheave. These two bars are joined at their inner ends where they are secured to the frame A, but are separated at their outer o ends and are extended to form two adjacent handles U U. When the bars T T are in their usual position, the sheave turns freely between them. When, however, the two handles are pressed toward each other, the 5 bars T T bear frictionally upon the surface of the sheave, thus retarding the rotation of Q r the same and consequently of the traveling carriages. n. This conveying apparatus can be con.- 10o structed very cheaply, and can be put up and moved very quickly and easily. It is efficient journaled between said bars, and a rope atto be harvested very economically and expecached at opposite ends to said carriages and ditiously. passing around said sheave, substantially as r 5 I claim as my invention I set forth. 5 A i'obacco-conveyer comprising two frames In witness whereof I have hereunto signed located atdifferent levels, two inclined cables my name in the presence of two subscribing connected at opposite ends, respectively, to witnesses.

in operation, and enables the tobacco-plants said frames, and two carriages traveling 011 n said cables, respectively, in combination With L VVRIGHL to a bracket composed of two elastic bars se- Witnesses:

cured at one end to the upper of said frames, WV. M. FISHER,

but separated at their outer ends, a sheave FANNIE H. FISHER. 

